Washington, D.C.-The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 34,000 African American churches spanning 15 denominations and representing 15.7 million African Americans denounce Gallaudet University and the Washington Blade for punishing Ms. Angela McCaskill who is African American for expressing her constitutional right on Question 6 whether to accept same sex marriage or not in the State of Maryland. Ms. McCaskill says that it conflicts with her Christian faith so she signed a petition to put it on the ballot which is her constitutional right as an American to do so. She also exercised her right as a Christian to oppose gay marriage and her employer Gallaudet University placed her on administrative leave. These actions that were taken against her are not only unconstitutional, but amounts to a witch hunt against those of us who dare to stand up for our faith. This is a form of religious McCarthyism – Nazism being applied especially to African Americans who are Christians as an intimidation tactic.

Rev. Anthony Evans, President of NBCI says, “I am ashamed, appalled and outraged that we have reached this level in society where you can no longer practice your religious beliefs because a small immoral community (gays) has successfully persuaded a vocal minority that opposing gay marriage is un-American. This type of witch hunt amounts to McCarthyism. I am happy to note however, that some, not all in the gay community have denounced Gallaudet University unconstitutional actions against Angela McCaskill. I want this Christian sister to know that the Black Church will stand up for her and we will get her job back and we will defeat gay marriage in Maryland. I am calling on the ACLU and the NAACP to file a human rights and a discrimination complaint against Gallaudet University. NBCI will launch demonstrations in front of the Washington Blade and Gallaudet University over the course of the next two weeks. Just for the record, the black church supported and marched with our hearing -impaired brothers and sisters during their self-determination demonstrations some fifteen years ago. Now they are persecuted us’’

Gallaudet President T. Alan Hurwitz announced Angela McCaskill’s was placed on leave in a statement Wednesday. Hurwitz says McCaskill for “participating in a legislative initiative that some feel is inappropriate” for someone in her position. Gallaudet is the nation’s leading university for the deaf and hard of hearing. McCaskill lives in Maryland, where voters will decide in November whether to approve a state law legalizing gay marriage. The referendum was placed on the ballot by opponents of same-sex unions. McCaskill’s signature on the petition was disclosed in July by the Washington Blade.

About NBCI

NBCI is a coalition of 34,000 African American churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI’s mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public. The National Black Church Initiative’s methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science. The National Black Church Initiative's purpose is to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI’s programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science based strategies and techniques, and methods that work.